Safety device for elevators.



No. 642,332. I Patented Ian. 30, I900. M. M. HUNTER.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

(Application filed Aug. 16, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheen-Sheet I.

THE uoams VETERS co, PHDTO-LITHO WASHINGTON, u c.

No. 642,332. Patented Jan. 30, I900.

m. m. HUNTER.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

(Application filed Aug. 16, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Omen.

MURRAY M. HUNTER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION firming part of Letters Patent N 0. 642,332, dated January 30, 1906.

Application filed August 16, 1899. Serial No. 727,875. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MURRAY M. HUNTER, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Safety Devices for Elevators, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

My invention is relative to improvements in safety devices for elevators.

One of the objects contemplated by theinvention is to provide an improved device whereby after the elevator-cage leaves a floor or landing the door at said floor or landing is by suitable means securely locked and this locking is effected either in case the door is fully closed or only partly closed by the person having charge of the elevator-cage, and said invention also provides for the automatic unlocking of the door atafloor or landing when the cage reaches said floor or landmg.

The in vention furthermore contem plates as an object the provision of an improved alarm mechanism which is automatically sounded whenever the cage leaves a floor or landing at which the elevator attendant has, through an oversight, omitted to close the door or has only partly closed the same, the ring continuing until the door is again closed either by the person in charge of the elevator or by some person at the floor or landing.

\Vith the above primary and other incidental objects in view the invention consists of the devices and parts or theirequivalents, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a front elevation of an elevator-shaft, showing two floors and the elevator-cage in position at the upper floor and one of the doors at the floor or landing slightly open. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the elevatorshaft, showing a fragment of the cage, said cage, however, not being in section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the locking mechanism, part in section and broken away,and also showing part of the door and the device for operating the door. Fig. dis a plan view of Fig. Fig. 5 is a sectional view through one of the locking-plates, showingafragment of the mechanism which engages therewith.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the electrical make-and-break.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 7 indicates an elevator-shaft, and 8 8 two floors or landings of a building. The elevator-shaft is inclosed at the difierent floors, preferably by the usual wire housings, indicated, respectively, in the accompanying drawings by the numerals 9 9. The doors of the elevatorshaft at the respective floors are indicated, respectively, by the numerals 10 10. Each door is provided across its top portion with a plate provided with suitable indentations or openings to receive the locking dog or catch, hereinafter referred to. The plate for the lower door is indicated by the numeral 11 and the plate for the upper door by the numeral 11. I prefer, instead of making complete openings through these plates, to stamp or otherwise force inwardly the metal at different points throughout the lengths of the plates, so as to form a series of depressions 12, which depressions are deepest toward the outer side edge of the door. By this provi sion when the locking mechanism engages one of these depressions it is impossible to slide the door toward an open position, inasmuch as the deep portion of the depression will contact with the locking mechanism, and thereby prevent the opening of the door. There is no barrier, however, at any time to the door being slid to the closed position, inasmuch as the locking mechanism will slide along the less deep portion of the severaldepressions. I do not wish, however, to be understood as limiting myself to the depressions 12, inasmuch as, if desired, the plates 11 11 could be provided with openings extending therethrough, or, in fact-,1 would consider-it within the spirit and scope of my invention if the plates 11 11 were omitted altogether and the locking mechanism permitted to engage the door in any desirable manneras, for instance, to engage the spaces between the wires of the door.

Secured to the front of the elevator-cage is a strip 13, (shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3,) the opposite ends of said strip being preferably beveled. In cases where the door of the landing is at the side of the elevator-shaft instead of at the front, as shown in the accompanying drawings, the strip 13 is secured to the side of the elevator-cage,and the mechanism with which said strip coacts and which is to be hereinafter described is also located at the side.

The locking mechanism consists of a U- shaped orsubstantially U-shaped rod. (Most clearly shown in Fig. 3.) This rod is preferably formed in two sections, one section being indicated by the numeral 14: and the other section by the numeral 15. One of these rods and allied mechanism is located at each floor of the building. The section 15 has an inwardly-extending leg, which forms a locking dog or catch 16, said dog or catch extending inwardly in position to engage the depressions 12 of the locking-plates 11 or 11', as the case may be. The section 14 of the U-shaped rod is provided with an inwardly-extending longer leg 17. This long leg of section 14 projects inwardly through the framework and is encircled by a coiled spring 18, said spring being disposed on the leg 17, between the framework and an enlarged extremity of said leg. This enlarged extremity of the leg has journaled thereon a roller 19, which is adaptedto be acted upon by the strip l3,carried by the elevator-cage,when said elevator-cage ascends or descends to a position to bring this strip into working position. The roller 19 is adapted to ride along the beveled ends of the strip and to gradually force outwardly the U- shaped locking-rod, so that the dog or catch 16 thereof is forced out of engagement with one of the depressions 12 in the plate 11 or 11, said dog or catch being fully disengaged when the roller rides on the straight edge of the strip 13, and which occurs when the elevator-cage is brought flush with the floor. At this time it is obvious that the door may be readily opened by the elevator attendant. Whenever the elevator-cage leaves a floor, after the door has been thus opened, the person in charge of the elevator can then push the door to a closed position, and then, on either the ascent or descent of the elevator-cage, the strip 13 is gradually brought out of contact with the roller 19, and when fully out of contact therewith the recoil of the spring 18 will return the U -shaped locking-rod to a locking position, so that the dog or catch 16 thereof will engage one of the depressions 12, and this engagement occurs whether the door has been fully closed or only partially closed; In the upper part of Fig. 1 of the drawings the door is shown as only partially closed, but the locking mechanism is in engagement with one of the depressions 12, so as to render it impossible to further open the door. It will thus be seen that the door is locked no matter whether fully closed or only partially closed and that when the elevator cage reaches the flooring the locking mechanism is released, so that the elevator boy can push the door to an open position.

\Vhile I have herein shown and described the U-shaped rod as preferably formed of two sections 14 and 15, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this par-: ticular arrangement, inasmuch as, if desired, the locking-rod could be made in the U shaped form shown, but of one continuous integral bar, or of any other desirable form, so long as two inwardly-extending legs are provided. The construction shown in the drawings, however, wherein the U-shaped locking-rod is shown as composed of two sections, is the preferred construction. These two sections are shown as hinged together on the hinge pin or pintle 20, and a spring 21 is shown as secured to the section 14 and bears at its free end on the outer edge of the section 15. The

making of the U-shaped locking-rod in two sections and hinged together, as shown, and employing in connection therewith the spring 21 is to provide for the door being closed by a person at the floor or landing when the elevator-cage is not flush with the particular floor or landing much more readily than when the U-shaped rod is made of one continuous integral bar. By the arrangement shown a person at the floor or landing can take hold of the door and push it toward a closed position, and the hinge-pin 20 will permit of the locking dog or catch 16 riding out of the depressions 12 onto the straight portions of the plate 11 or 11, and when the sliding of the door toward a closed position is stopped the spring 21 will force the locking dog or catch 16 into engagement with the depression or recess 1.2 which is in alinement therewith. Where the U-shaped locking-rod is made in two sections hinged together, as shown, it is necessary that the respective sections be provided with abutting shoulders, as otherwise when the elevator-cage is brought to a position to bring this strip 13 into engagement with the roller 19 the section 14 of the U shaped locking-rod would be forced outwardly, but the spring 21, bearing on the section 15, would still continue to hold the looking dog or catch 16 of said section into engagement with the depression 12. I therefore show these abutting shoulders in the accom panyingillustrations of my invention, the shoulder on the section 14 being indicated by the numeral 22 and the shoulder on the section 15 by the numeral 23. When, therefore, the strip 1?) acts on the roller 19, the section 14 is forced outwardly, and by reason of the shoulder 22 thereof abutting against the shoulder 23 the spring 21 cannot keep the dog or catch 16 in engagement with one of the depressions-12, but said dog or catch is moved outwardly with the U-shaped locking-rod.

Referring to the mechanism for sounding an'alarm in case the door is from accident or otherwise not closed, or in case it is only partially closed, it will be seen that the leg 17 of the section 14 of the U-shaped rod carries an upwardly-extending arm 24, and this arm in turn carries a horizontal contact-finger 25, said contact-finger provided at its extremity with a head. This head is adapted to make contact with the projecting enlarged end of the rod 26, said rod being surrounded by a metallic sleeve 27, (see Fig. 6,) and within this sleeve the rod is encircled bya coiled spring 28. The sleeve 27 is inclosed by a casing 29. The inner end of the rod 26 has mounted thereon an insulating-sleeve 30. The exterior of this sleeve. is threaded, and engaging these threads is an insulating-collar 31, said collar abutting against theinner end of the metallic sleeve 27. Also engaging the threaded exterior of the insulating-sleeve 30 is a contact-plate 32. The insulating-sleeve 30 and the insulating-collar serve toinsulate the rod 26 from the contact-plate 32 and from the metallic sleeve 27. A contact-strip 33, carried at the inner end of the rod 26, is adapted normally to make contacts with the plate 32. Leading to said plate 32 is an electrical conductor or wire a, and leading to the outer flange of the metallic sleeve 27 is an electrical conductor or wire I). At each floor or landing is also located another make-andbreak mechanism. This make -and break mechanism is exactly similar to the makeand-break mechanism just described, and illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3, 4, and 6, excepting that the make-and-break mechanism of Figs. 3, 4, and 6 is operated by the strip 13, carried by the elevator-cage,whenever said strip bears against the roller 19. Each of the other make-and-break mechanisms, however, is operated by a plate 34, carried by the doors 10 and 10 of the elevatorshaft. The inner end of each of these plates 34 is flanged or turned outwardly, as most clearly shown in Fig. 1. These make-andbreak mechanisms which are operated by these plates 34 are indicated by the numerals 35 35, and the contact-rod of each of said make-and-break mechanisms (similar to the contact-rods 26) by the numeral 36, said rod 36 being shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. In the operation of this alarm mechanism whenever the door is fully closed the plate 34 acts on the contact-rod 36 and breaks the connection in exactly the same manner as the makeand-break is broken in Fig. 6. The wire 0. leads from the Fig. (5 make-and-break and extends down to the make-and-break mech-. anism 35 below, and another wire 0 is extended from this upper make-and-break 35 to the corresponding make-and-break 35 of the fioor below, and from this lower makeand-break 35 a wire d leads to the battery 37. The wire I) is extended from the upper make-and-break illustrated in Fig. 6 to the bell or alarm 38, and from said bell another wire 6 leads to the battery. It will be obvious that whenever the elevator-cage is at a flooring, by reason of the fact that the strip 13 is then acting on the roller 19, the contactfinger 25 is thrust into contact with the rod 26, and consequently the current is broken and the alarm is not sounded. lVhenever the elevator-cage leaves a flooring, if the elevator boy fully closes the door, the plate 34 will act on its make-and-break 35 or 35, and

thereby break the connection, and hence not sound the alarm. If, however, the elevator boy should fail to entirely close the door or should only partially close the door, then the plate 34 does not act on its make-and-break 35 or 35 so as to break the connection, and

as soon as the elevator-cage has traveled sufficiently far from the landing so as to bring its contact-strip 13 out of engagement with the roller 19 the circuit is also then completed through the make-and-break of Fig. 6, with the result that a complete circuit is formed, and consequently the alarm is sounded and will continue to sound until the elevator boy again closes the door or the door is closed by some person at the floor or landing.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a safety device for elevators, the combination, of an elevator-shaft, an opening and closing door at the landing of said elevatorshaft, an elevator-cage, locking mechanism mounted in a fixed part so as to be capable of having an in-and-out sliding movement 0 therein, said locking mechanism having inwardly-extendin g legs, one of said legs adapted to act as a locking dog or catch which normally engages the door for the purpose of holdin g said door in a closed or partially-closed po- 5 sition, and mechanism carried by the elevator-shaft and adapted to act on the other leg of the locking mechanism,when the cage approaches a landing, so as to disengage the locking mechanism and thereby permit of the :00 opening of the door.

2. In a safety device for elevators, the combination, of an elevator-shaft, an opening and elosin g door at the landing of said shaft, a rackplate provided on the door, an elevator-cage, 10 locking mechanism mounted in a fixed part so as to be capable of having an in-and-ont sliding movement therein, said locking mechanism having inwardly-extending legs, one of said legs adapted to act as a locking dog or 1 to catch which normally engages the rack-plate of the door for the purpose of holding said door in a closed or a partially-closed position, and mechanism carried by the elevator-cage, and adapted to act on the other leg of the lock- 1 15 ing mechanism, when the cage approaches a landing so as to disengage the locking mechanism, and thereby permit of the opening of the door.

3. In a safety device for elevators, the combination, of an elevator-shaft, an opening and closing door at the landing of said elevatorshaft, an elevator-cage, locking mechanism mounted in a fixed part so as to be capable of having an in-and-out sliding movement there- 1 25 in, said locking mechanism having inwardlyextending legs, one of said legs adapted to act as a locking dog or catch which normally engages the door for the purpose of holding said door in a closed or partially-closed position, 1 0 mechanism carried by the elevator-cage and adapted to act on the locking mechanism, when the cage approaches a landing, so as to disengage the locking mechanism and thereby permit of the opening of the door, and a spring encircling the leg of the locking mechanism which is acted upon by the mechanism carried by the dog, said spring being confined between the fixed part and an enlargement on the leg, and adapted, after the mechanism' carried by the cage has ceased to act on the leg which spring surrounds, to slide the locking mechanism in a position to cause the locking dog or catch to be again brought to position to engage and lock the door.

4. In a safety device for elevators, the combination, of an elevator-shaft, an opening and closing door at the landing of said shaft, an elevator-cage, locking mechanism mounted in a fixed part so asto be capable of having an in-and-out sliding movement therein, said locking mechanism consisting of sections pivoted together, each section having an inwardly-extending leg, the inwardiy-extending leg of one section acting as a locking dog or catch which normally engages the door for the purpose of holding said door in a closed or a partially-closed position, and mechanism carried by the elevator-cage and adapted to act on the leg of the other pivoted section of the locking mechanism, when the cage approaches a landing, so as to disengage the locking mechanism and thereby permit of the opening of the door.

5. In a safety device for elevators, the combination,of an elevator-shaft, an opening and closing door at the landing of said elevatorshaft, an elevator-cage, locking mechanism consisting of sections pivoted together, each section having an inwardly-extending leg, the inwardly-extending leg of one section acting as a dog or catch adapt-ed, when the elevator-cage leaves the landing, and when the door is operated for the purpose of closing the same, to automatically lock said door in the position to which it has been adjusted, mechanism carried by the elevator-cage and adapted to act on the leg of the other section of the locking mechanism when the elevatorcage approaches a landing, so as to disengage the locking dog or catch and thereby to provide for the opening of the door, when the elevator-cage reaches the landing, and a spring secured to one of the sections of the locking mechanism and bearing with its free end against the section of the locking mechanism which carries the dog or catch.

6. Ina safety device for elevators, the combination, of an elevator-shaft, an opening and closing door at the landing of said elevator-shaft, an elevator-cage, locking mechanism consisting of sections pivoted together, each section having an inwardly-extending leg, the inwardly-exten'din g leg of one section acting as a dog or catch adapted, when the elevator-cage leaves the landing and when the door is operated for the purpose of closing the same, to automatically lock said door in the position to which it has been adjusted, and each section of the locking mechanism provided with a shouldcr,said shoulders abut ting, in order to limit the inward swinging of the section carrying the dog or catch, and mechanism carried by the elevator-cage, and adapted to act on the locking mechanism when the cage approaches a landing, so as to disengage the locking mechanism and thereby provide for the opening of the door.

7. In a safety device for elevators, the combination, of an elevator-shaft, an opening and closing door at the landing of said shaft, an elevator-cage, contact mechanism carried by the elevator-cage, an alarm, and mechanism acted upon by the mechanism carried by the elevator-cage, when the cage is at a landing, said mechanism being separate from but adapted to operate the alarm mechanism and sound the alarm when a door is left in an open or a partially-open position, and when the elevator-cage leaves a landingand thereby brings the mechanism carried thereby out of contact with'the mechanism which operates the alarm.

8. In safety devices for elevators, the combination, of an elevator-shaft, an opening and closing door at the landing of said elevator-shaft, an elevator-cage, locking mechanism adapted when the elevator-cage leaves a landing and when the door is operated for the purpose of closing the same, to automaticall y lock said door in the position to which it has been adjusted, mechanism carried by the elevator-cage and adapted to act on the locking mechanism when the cage approaches a landing so as to disengage the locking mechanism and thereby provide for the opening of the door, and alarm mechanism also actuated by the mechanism carried by the elevator-cage, and adapted to be sounded when the cage leaves a landing and when the door is left in an open orin a partially-open position.

9. In safety devicesfor elevators, the combination, of an elevator-shaft, an opening and closing door at the landing of said elevatorshaft, an elevator-cage, locking mechanism adapted when the cage leaves a landing and when the door is operated for the purpose of closing the same, to automatically lock said door in the position to which it has been adjusted, a contact carried by the locking mechanism, a normally-broken electrical circuit, make-and-break mechanisms within the circuit, an alarm within said circuit, mechanism carried by the elevator-cage and adapted to act on the locking mechanism and thereby provide for the opening of the door, the contact carried by the locking mechanism being at the same time brought into engagement with one of the make-and-breaks so as to break the circuit at that point, but said contact being brought out of engagement with said make-and-break .When the mechanism carried by the elevator-cage is out of engagement with the locking mechanism, and a contact carried by the door and adapted to engage the other make-and-break and close the same when the door is left open and the makeand-break operated by the locking mechanism is also closed by the disengagement of the mechanism carried by the elevator-cage with the locking mechanism, whereby the circuit is completed and the alarm sounded.

10. In a safety device for elevators, the combination, of an elevator-shaft, an opening and closing door at the landing of said shaft, an elevator-cage, a normally-broken electrical circuit, mechanism carried by the elevatorcage, and adapted to be carried out of operating position, and thereby complete the circuit, when the elevator-cage leaves a landing, and when a door is left open or partially open, and an alarm within the circuit, said alarm adapted to be sounded when the circuit is completed by reason of the elevator-cage leaving a landing, and a door being left open or partially open.

11. In a safety device for elevators,the combination, of an elevator-shaft, an opening and closing door at the landing of said shaft, an elevator-cage, a movable contact, a normallybroken electrical circuit, make-andbreak mechanisms within the circuit, an alarm within the circuit, mechanism carried by the elevator-cage and adapted to act on the movable contact when the cage approaches a landing so as to operate said contact and cause said contact to be brought into engagement with one of the make-and-breaks so as to break the circuit at that point, but said contact adapted to be brought out of engagement with said make-and-break when the mechanism carried by the elevator-cage is out of engagement with the movable contact, and a contact carried by the door and adapted to engage the other make-and-break and close the same when the door is left open and the makeand-break operated by the other contact is also closed by the disengagement of the mechanism carried by the elevator-cage with said other contact, whereby the circuit is completed and the alarm sounded.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MURRAY M. HUNTER. Witnesses:

A. L. MoRsELL, DAVID WHITTAKER. 

